External policy of India
- Delhi Neeraj Pub. 1984
- 371p.
Here is an objective and, of course, critical evaluation of the res the British India had struck with the neighbouring foreign powers and several dependent Princes and Chiefs within the country itself. The author belonging to one of the earliest bands of civil servants in India, enjoyed the unique privilege of watching at first hand and executing as well, the external policy pursued by John Lawrence, the then Gover nor General, during one of the most momen tous periods of the country's diplomatic history. With the storm of 1857 not yet fully subsided, India was surrounded by tumultuous confusions and belligerent acti vities all around. While the Wahabis had disturbed the peace in the Gulf, the Bhutias with their riotous incursions had become a grave nuisance. The book recalls the shrewd brilliance with which both the tribes were tamed and taught to behave.
On the North-West, interminable bloody wars of succession had followed the death of Dost Mohammad, the Amir of Afghanis tan. Lawrence, who had been steeped in the rough practice of actual statesmanship too long, was determined against intervention in the conflict among the princes, and persis ted with his resolve in the teeth of repeated petitions and provocations. Never was a policy received with more mixed re-action than this 'Masterly Inactivity' of his. The author imaginatively probes the merits of non-intervention in Afghan affairs and also assesses its impact on the broader spectrum of relationship that should exist between England and Russia.